Toy figure or the like



- Aug. 7, 1934. H. M. RUNDLE TOY FIGURE OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 11, 1933 flea/y Run/0A5 INVENTOR BY %2% ATI' RNEY Aug. 7,1934. H. M. RUNDLE TOY FIGURE OR THE LIKE Filed July 11. 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 2 "flan/7M J w/0A5 INVENTOR BY MRNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1934siren STATES PATENT orrice 1 Claim.

This invention relates to figures employed for advertising, display,amusement, educational or other purposes and the objects of theinvention are to provide a self-supporting figure in the nag-ture of asilhouette having the resemblance of human, animal, or other form, whichcan be cut Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of a manikin figureembodying the invention, these views being taken from three differentangles.

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views, the first with the figure tilted forwardlyinto the plane of the body and front leg portion and the second with thefigure tilted backwardly into the plane of the rearward leg portion.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank or out out before folding into theupstanding relation.

The figure chosen for illustrative purposes is that of a man, either oftoy or full size stature and consisting in general of a body portion 7and two leg parts 8, 9.

An important special feature is that one leg part, 9 in theillustration, is joined to the body and other leg part on a hinging orbending line 10, which is inclined to the axis of the figure, on anupwardly and outwardly extending slant, so that the two leg portions .asthey separate will come into two obtusely angled divergent planes facingoutwardly of the figure, the left leg directed toward the left and theright leg, directed toward the right, giving an impression of action andstability and actually imparting a three dimensional characteristic tothe figure.

In the illustration, the leg parts have forward- 1y projecting feet 11,12, folding on lines 13, 14, into the obtusely and acutely angledrelation shown in Fig. 2. These fold lines may be substantially parallelas indicated in Fig. 6 and located, if desired, as shown, to give therearward leg slightly greater length than the forward one.

This difference in length is of consequence, particularly in anembodiment such as shown, "where the figure is integrally attached to asupporting base, such as shown at 15 and in which the hinge line 14 islocated at the rearward edge of such base, as in such construction thisbrings the body sufiiciently forwardly over the base to make the figurestand well.

The figure and base may be all cut out of one piece of material, such ascardboard or the like, and in such case, with the attached foot portionbeing a continuous part of the base, such part 12 may be simply painted,printed, or otherwise 55; distinguished on the base.

The other, detached foot part 11, may be glued or otherwise suitablyfastened in its forwardly and outwardly angled position on the base. Onepreferred method however is to slot the base on it} spaced parallellines 16, Fig. 6, inclined to the back hinging line 14 and to slip thefoot portion 11, beneath the strap of material 1'7, provided betweenthese slits, such foot portion being then steadied by resting flat onthe base at opposite flisides' of this hold-down strap. In such case,that part of the strap which overstands the foot may be colored, shaded,or otherwise fashioned as indicated at 18, to represent that part of thefoot portion which it overlies.

The device may be made up of different kinds of sheet material, such aspaper, metal, cardboard, wood, or the like, with the hinge lines 10, 13,14, formed by scoring, creasing or the equivalent and printed, paintedor otherwise dressed up and shaped to create the desired appearance andeffect. The hinging on the upward, outward in- ...s. (Gilcline gives theillusion of a forwardly striding figure and takes away the dull, flateffect of usual silhouette figures and this construction braces thearticle so that it stands firmly without further support. The extendingofthe hinge line 10 sharply upward and outward through the leg and thewider body portion of the figure as in Fig. 1 and the bending back ofthe material on this elongated hinge fold at an angle to the plane ofthe forward leg and body portion as in Figs. 2 and 3, braces andreinforces the figure in its backward leaning posture.

If the material used is quite stiff and the hing- 10D ing lines quitepronounced, the figure will assume simply the two flat planes indicated,that is, the one comprising the rearwardly and outwardly angled legshown on edge in Figs. 2 and 5, and the other that of the forwardly andoutwardly angled body and front leg shown on edge in Figs. 3 and 4-.With sufficient flexibility or resiliency in the material, there may bedeparture from these exact planes, the material bending somewhat,particularly the longer body and front leg portion, which bendinghowever, is not objectionable and might be considered as represented bythe curved line 19 in Fig. 3. Similarly, the curvature of the rearwardportion might be approximately as represented by the curve line in 20,of Fig. 2.

The article may be made up for display or advertising purposes, toydolls or animal figures and the like, it being contemplated that theinvention may be put to a great variety of purposes and uses. Thematerial for the foot part 11 is taken out of the base in the presentcase, Fig. 6 showing how the base is cut at 21 about this foot portion.For some purposes, such as toy soldiers and the like, a number of thefigures may all be cut out as part of and attached to the same basestructure.

What is claimed is:

A figure of sheet material and comprising a forward leg and a bodyportion coextensive in substantially a single plane and inclinedupwardly and rearwardly in a leaning backward posture and a rearward legin another plane at an obtuse angle to the plane of the forward leg andbody portion, said rearward leg being connected with the forward leg andbody portion by a hinge fold inclined sharply g upwardly and outwardlythrough the body portion and providing thereby a bracing and reinforcingportion folded back at an angle to the plane of the body portion,reinforcing and stiffening the body portion in its backward leaning poseand causing said rearward leg to stand in the obtusely angled relationdescribed bracing and supporting the figure.

HENRY M. RUNDLE.

